Powered nail clipper

ABSTRACT

The submission is an electrically powered, self-operated, hands-free, fingernail clipper for persons having neither the strength nor the flexibility to use a conventional leaf-spring type nail clipper. The unit is mounted in a PVC housing, with an aluminum cover, and consists of an electric, 3 RPM Hi-Torque motor, mounted on the side of a chassis strut, with a direct shaft drive to a Tri-Lobe cam that depresses the activating lever of a pair of conventional, leaf-spring type nail clippers. The motor is activated by a rocker switch, applying power through a cable plugged into normal house current (115-120V).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fingernail clippers, and morespecifically to a new and improved self-operating, hands-free fingernailclipper especially adapted for individuals who, through lack of strengthin one or both hands or because of any deformity, find usingconventional clippers too difficult or impossible.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various types of nail clippers are known in the prior art. A typicalexample of such an item is found in:

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,427 to Kaidi et al. This patent teaches a        conventional leaf-spring type clipper having a sleeve attached        to catch clippings.    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,194,807 issuing to Weiss is a variation of the        former with a different apparatus to catch the clippings.    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,159,318 to Farag discloses a clipper unit having        a shield with various configurations of shapes cut into it for        the purpose of sticking the user's nail through to be sheared        off.    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,812 issuing to Martin Jr. primarily teaches        a toenail clipper due to the presence of an extended handle.    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,845 to Jung teaches a scissor-type nail        clipper.    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,673 to McMullen teaches a clipper somewhat        similar in concept to a conventional leaf-spring type clipper        wherein the cutters are positioned on the side rather than on        the leading edge. Lastly,    -   U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,257 to Kiura discloses another nail clipper        similar to a conventional leaf-spring type clipper but having a        chamber to collect the clippings.

While all the above-mentioned devices may be suitable for their intendedusage, none is specifically designed for persons who have some degree ofdifficulty in squeezing the clipper's levers due to inherent deformityor strength problems, nor are these devices particularly adapted forpersons who suffer from certain bone and/or joint diseases whosestrength and/or flexibility negates the use of conventional means to cuttheir nails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of prior art nailclippers as relate specifically to usage by persons having digitalstrength problems or joint/bone disease that result in lack of strengthand/or deformity. The present invention is a new and greatly improvedhands-free nail clipper which can be used by the group of individualsdescribed above as well as by persons who have no problem using thecurrently available, conventional-type nail clippers. The nail-clipperof this invention makes use of an electric motor-driven, Tri-lobed camto power a conventional leaf-spring type clipper. When the unit of thisinvention is placed on a surface and turned on, the user can easilyplace his/her nail in the clipper and allow the motorized cam to depressthe clipper handle to operate the clipper; or, in the case ofindividuals with some degree of deformity, such as caused by arthritisor other bone diseases, such individuals will be able to guide eachfingernail into the clipper with the other functional hand. Because thismotor runs continuously once the activation switch is activated, theuser needs only to sit in front of the unit and guide his/her nails intothe cutting edges.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved self-operating, hands-free fingernail clipper for use bypersons who may be unable to squeeze a conventional nail clipper or whomay be unable to physically align their fingernails with a conventionalclipper while simultaneously try to manage a conventional clipper withthe other hand.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved self-operating, hands-free fingernail clipper.

It is a further object of the present invention to introduce aself-operating fingernail clipper which is of durable and reliableconstruction.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provideself-operating clipper which is of simple construction, providing lowcost of manufacture and assembly, and which can be easily andefficiently manufactured and marketed.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should bemade to the accompanying drawings and description of the PreferredEmbodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a left-side view of the nail clipper of thisinvention .

FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevational view of the device of thisinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the device of this invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a left-side perspective view of the device of thisinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a left-side perspective view of the device of thisinvention with a portion cutaway, exposing the Tri-lobed cam.

FIG. 6 illustrates a right-side perspective view with a portion cutaway,exposing the drive mount.

FIG. 7 illustrates a right-side perspective view of the cover thatencloses the mechanism and wiring connections of the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 illustrates a left-side view of the nail clipper of thisinvention, showing the relative position of the Leaf-Spring type clipper2, and illustrating that said clipper extends far enough away from PVCChassis 1, and that there is ample room for the user to approach thecutting edges regardless of degree of angle necessitated by anydeformity of the user. As seen in FIG. 1, the Pressure Lever 10, isunder, and will be depressed by the Tri-Lobed Cam 4 as it rotates.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevational view of the device of thisinvention, showing the relative simplicity of the unit. Chassis 1 isproduced using four separate pieces of PVC secured together with screws.Tri-Lobed Cam 4 operates leaf-spring type clipper 2 mechanism. Thisoperation is performed by Tri-Lobed Cam 4 which places enough force onPressure Lever 10 which is held to leaf-spring type clipper by LeverPinion 11. Also in the base plate of the Chassis 1 is a shallow channelfor the leaf-spring type clipper to rest in for alignment with theTri-Lobed Cam 4. The clipper is solidly attached to the base plate witha nut/bolt.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the device of this invention,showing the relative location of activation switch 5 which is mounted onthe top surface of the Unit Cover 6 as well as showing the clearance oneither side of the clipper's cutting edges for purposes of allowing forany physical problem with aligning the user's nail to the clipper'scutting edges.

FIG. 4 illustrates a left-side perspective view of the device, showingsome visual parts and Chassis 1 construction of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a left-side perspective view of the device of thisinvention with a portion cutaway, exposing the Tri-Lobed Cam 4. FIG. 5provides a glimpse of the actual operating system of the device, namely,Tri-Lobed Cam 4 and its orientation to the active leaf-spring clipper 2relative to pressure lever 10 and lever pinion 11.

FIG. 6 illustrates a right-side perspective view with a portion cutawayexposing the drive mount and Motor 8 location.

FIG. 7 illustrates a right-side perspective view of the device Cover 3showing the Activating Switch 5 in place, as well as the strain reliefplug for the power cord.

In operation, the device of this invention is a self-operated,hands-free fingernail clipper having a PVC chassis 1, an upright strutupon which an electric high-torque 3 RPM drive assembly 8 is mounted,with a direct drive camshaft, pressure fitted to a Tri-lobed cam 4. Whenthe device is seated upon a table or countertop, activation switch 5 ispressed to activate the unit. Optimally the high-torque motor revolvesat 3 RPM, thereby causing the Tri-Lobed Cam 4 to come in contact withthe activating lever 10 of a pair of leaf-spring type nail clippers at arate of approximately 9 times per minute. As a result of actual trials,this speed of operation has been determined to be the most advantageousspeed for operation of the nail clipper of this invention.

It should be noted that power to the drive motor can be obtained fromany normal household 120V electrical outlet, through a power cord notshown in the drawings. In other iterations, the basic chassis of thisinvention with the same leaf-spring type clipper as described above, canalso operated by being powered with a solenoid, with foot switch, oralternately with a cable/foot pedal.

Although the present invention has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat variations and modifications can be substituted therefore withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit of this invention.

DRAWING LEGEND

-   1 PVC Chassis-   2 Leaf-Spring Type Clipper-   3 Cutout to Accommodate Clipper-   4 Tri-Lobe Cam-   5 Activation Switch (On/Off)-   6 Unit Cover-   7 Strain Relief-   8 Motor-   9 Drive Shaft-   10 Pressure Lever-   11 Pressure Lever Pinion

1. The invention described herein is an electrically powered deviceoperating a pair of conventional lever-type clippers.
 2. An electricpowered, fingernail clipping machine, comprising: a. a base unit thatsecurely positions a conventional, lever-type fingernail clipper, undera rotating cam, b. a high torque electric motor, driving the cam at asteady rotational speed, thereby activating the opening/closing, cuttingaction of the clippers, c. said action parts enclosed by a cover andprovided with an on/off switch to activate power to the device, Whereby,said machine is available to be used to cut fingernails without the needto squeeze a conventional lever-type clipper.